One of the last pieces of legislation the Ohio General Assembly approved before adjourning for the summer recess was House Bill 318. It was originally introduced in 2017 with the purpose of establishing qualification and training guidelines for School Resource Officers. In June, the Senate Education Committee amended HB 318 to include provisions from an unrelated and separate Senate bill. The bill was signed into law by Ohio’s governor and took effect on Nov. 2, 2018.

Sometimes individual schools require changes to the Master Agreement or to Board Policy. On these occasions, they turn to the Reform Panel to make these changes called “variances.” This joint committee of administrators and CEA representatives, including the superintendent and CEA President Rhonda Johnson, meet each month to consider such requests.

Sometimes workplace variances are needed to accommodate the curriculum. At other times, some of us have ideas that we believe would improve instruction in our classroom or building. This process allows us to implement those ideas without violating or renegotiating our contract.

Here’s how it works: If you have an idea that isn’t provided by our Master Agreement or school board policy, fill out a variance form which asks you to explain the program’s expected outcomes and rationale for the change. Then present your idea to the Reform Panel. Your principal must sign the form, and two-thirds of your building peers must agree to the idea. Parent involvement in some matters (such as a school schedule or a uniform policy) also is essential.

For more information on the Reform Panel, consult Article 1503 of your contract.

One of the most valuable benefits of CEA membership is something you might need one day: our sick leave bank. Each year, some of us experience devastating illnesses and injuries that require long recovery periods; or, we simply have not accumulated enough sick leave if something were to happen. This is a especially true for beginning teachers.

Anyone who has joined the bank by donating two sick days and then exhausts his or her own share may take a loan from the bank of up to ten days. The days you borrow can be paid back as you accrue them. The two days that you deposit when you join will be returned to you when you retire or resign from the district.

Please sign up. If you have already joined the bank, you don’t need to rejoin. The deadline to join the Sick Leave Bank is Sept. 30. The donation form is available on the CCS Intranet under “Human Resources.”